Method of preparing- and using- box-toes in boots and shoes



I w. F. PACKARD. METHOD OF vPREPARING AND USING BOX TOES IN BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED APR-11.1918.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEIET 1.

W. F. PACKARD.

METHOD OF PREPARING AND usme BOX TOES IN BOOTS AND SHOES. APPLICATION FILED APR.- l l, IQIB- 1,330,449.

Patented Feb. 10,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I l l Inventor uarrn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM IE. PACKARD, 0F BROOKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF IPREPARING AND USING BOX-[DOES IN BOOTS AND SHOES.

ncome.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

Application filed April 11, 1918. Serial No. 228,026.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. PACK- ARD, a citizen of the United States, residin at Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Preparing and Using Box-Toes inBoots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a method of preparing and using box-toes in boots and shoes.

Heretofore, so far as known to me, it has been customary in making box-toes for use in boots and shoes, to impregnate the material, such as felt and the like, with a suitable stiffening compound. After the material had dried or set sufiiciently the box toes were then died out in the desired form and distributed as blanks. Before being used, however, it was necessary to soften the blanks in order that the box toe, when being incorporated in a shoe, might be formed and molded closely about the last in order to obtain the correct shape, and this was generally accomplished by subjecting the blanks to heat or to steam which softened the stiffening compound. This method, however, has been open to several objections; the principal one being, that the box toes when tempered by the heat or steam cooled so rapidly that before they were formed around the last and stitched, the cooling process had caused the box toe material to become hard. As a result of this rapid cooling, the box toe was frequently broken or otherwise injured during the proc-' ess of; forming it about the last and stitching it in the shoe. cloning; of the box toe rendered it difficult to mold or form it closely about the last in order to obtain the correct shape. At times the cooling has been so rapid that it became necssary to subject the box toe again to heat and this of course'made it necessary to put the last, with the shoe on it, in some heating apparatus; in which case it frequently happened that the heat injured the leather and caused the last to swell and thereby made further operations ditficult and the product unsatisfactory.

The main object of my invention is to provide a method for preparing box-toes for Furthermore, the harboots and shoes which permits of the blanks being incorporated in the shoes while in a partially tempered state so that they may be molded and fitted about the last While in a pliable condition.

Another object of the invention is to secure a method which may be carried out in the shoe factory where the blanks are to be used and which permits the blanks to be prepared as and when required for use.

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth and described hereinafter.

Briefly, my invention contemplates a method for preparing and using box toes in boots and shoes comprising, broadly, the following steps: First, suitable blanks are passed through a bath of stiffening compound; secondly,the blanks are compressed to remove the surplus stiffening compound; and, thirdly, the blanks, While in a partially tempered condition, are formed about the last and incorporated in the shoe by stitching or otherwise.

In carrying outv my method, suitable blanks of felt, burlap or other material, hav-,

ing previously been died out of sheet material, are first provided; said blanks being in the desired form of a 'box-toeu These blanks may be carried in stock until theoccasion for their use arises, whereupon they are prepared for use by my method and The first step of my method consists in taking a blank of suitable shape and size and impregnating it with a stiffening compound. For this purpose any suitable compound may be employed, such for instance, as one made up in the proportions of one gallon of wood alcohol to approximately seven pounds of shellac and one pound of rosin. The blank is subjected to the bath of stiffening compound until it becomes saturated and to accelerate this condition the stiffening compound may be heated.

The second step consists in removing the surplus compound from the blank, preferably by pressure, so that it is in a moist and pliable condition. Under such cimcustances, it generally takes a long time for the blank to dry out or set and become hard, so that shoe is laid to one side permitting the blank to hardenintheform given it by the last.

In a prior application filed by me March 13, 1917, Serial No. 154,588,is shown and claimed a machine by which certain steps of my method may be carried out, but the practics of my method is not to be restricted to that or to any particular machine for impregnating box toe material with a stiffen ing compoundbut may be carried out by any device which will impregnate the material and deliver it in a proper condition.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated the above mentioned machine by means of which the box-toe blanks are impregnated with a stiffening compound and, after being subjected to pressure, are delivered in a moist, pliable condition; Figure 1 being a view in perspective of the machine; Fig.2 a plan view of thesame; Fig. 3 a side elevation and Fig. at a detail View.

Referring to the drawings, a tank or receptacle 5is provided for containing a suitable stiffening solution, the tank being mounted. on a base 6 and having arranged therein a guideway 7 made up of plates 8 in parallel'arangement with a' space between forthe passage of the blanks through the tank and stiffening compound. Til-conjunction'withtheguideway pairs of feed rolls 9, having-pins 10* are provided for gripping and feeding the blanks forward. The rolls 9" are mounted on suitable shafts-11 journaled through the sides of the tank 5 and on one encltlie shafts'are each provided with a ratchet-wheel 12 in-orderthat the rolls may rotated'bv an endless chain 14. Bushings 16 and'capsl'l' areprovided to prevent leakingaround the shafts 11. c

For feeding the blanks into the tank automatic means are provided comprising a table 20 supported upon a standard 21 mounted on the base 6. The blanks 23 (shown in the form of box toe blanks) are arranged in a pile or stack near that end of the table adjacent the tank and are held in a compact rel tion by means of a follower 2 L fixed on the lower end of a vertical rod 25. having a weight 26 on its upper end. The rod is supported in an upright position by. and slides freely through, a cross-piece 2'7 mounted-on two supporting rods 28, set on the tabl'QO. A transverse bar 29. having its.

ends" recessed" to-receive the rods 28, serves as a guide for the follower in its vertical movement and a lock 30 may be provided for holding the rod in a raised position to permit a stack of blanks to be inserted, the lock being held normally in a. locking position by a spring 31.

For feeding the blanks one at a time a sliding plate 35, preferably having a pointed end, is provided. The plate has two down wardly projecting points 36 on its lower sur face, which points engage the top surface of the table 20 so that the point of the feeding plate is slightly above the surface of the table and when the plate is moved forwardly its point is pushed into the stack of blanks between the bottom blank and the one just above it, thereby separating the former from the rest of the stack, the forward movement of the plate then pushing the bottom blank toward the tank.

The reciprocating movement of the feeding plate is accomplished by the following means. The rear end of the plate 35 is cured to a cros -piece 37 which slides upon two guide-rods 38 mounted in and between suitable cross-pieces e0 fastened to the table 20 by screws ll, the cross-piece l0 nearer the stack of blanks having an opening l2- through which the feeding plate reciprocates. Upon suitable standards is mounted a shaft l6 carrying a large fecd-roll l7 provided with points 4:8 on its surface for gripping the blanks. On one end of the shaft is mounted a large ratchetw-cheel over which the chain l i passes. To each. cm. of the shaft is fixedly secured an arm pivotally connected to one end of an arm 53, the other end of which is provided with a slot 54.- and connected by a suitable stud to the cross-piece 37 so that as the shaft revolves, the cross-piece, through the medium of the a ms and is reciprocated horizontally carrying the plate 35 with it and thereby effecting the feeding of the blanks. The slot 5 1- permits an adjustment to he made to regulate the path of the plate.

Arranged above the feed-roll is an auxiliary roll (30 mounted on a shaft 61 which is journaled in and between the ends of two arms 63 pivotally mounted at G-l upon suitable brackets secured one on each side of the tank. The auxiliary roll is pivotally mounted so that it may be raised at the appropriate time to permit a blank to be. fed in between it and the feed-roll l? a tter which it is dropped back and serves to hold the blank against the feed-roll 4:?" to insure the feeding of the blank into the guidcway in the tank. To raise the auxiliary roll 60 at the proper time a wheel is mounted on one end of the shaft 46 carrying the feed-roll 4:7 and is provided with a pin 71 .adapted to-engage a cam plate 72 fixed on one of the arms 63carrying the auxiliary roll. In-Fig. 4 the operation due to the pin 71 and cam 72 is illustrated, the auxiliary roll being shown in full lines in its normal position and in dotted lines in its position when raised by the cam during the operation of the machine to permit a blank to be fed forward between the main feed-roll and the auxiliary roll without obstruction.

For the purpose of controlling the amount of saturation of the blanks as they emerge from the tank and in order to remove any surplus stifiening compound from the blanks and to deliver them in a soft pliable condition ready for use, means are provided at the exit end of the tank for subjecting the blanks to pressure, said means being preferably adjustable to regulate the amount of pressure. These means comprise two rolls 80 and 81 mounted on suitable shafts 82 and 83 respectively. The shaft 83 carrying the roll 81 is journaled in sliding bearings 84 which in turn are mounted in frames 85 pivotally mounted on the shaft 82. The bearings 84 are maintained in such position that the roll 81 is pressed into engagement with the roll 80 by means of springs 87, said springs abutting at one end the bearing 84; and at the other end a screw 90 threaded through the top of the frame 85 by means of which the pressure exerted by the springs 87 may be regulated. A plate 92 is provided over which the blanks slide when emerging from the guideway and from between the pressure rolls and a supporting table 93 is furnished to receive the treated blanks.

The machine may be operated by hand or. by power. As shown, it is adapted to be operated by power and is provided with a pulley 94 mounted on the shaft 82 and an idler 95; the pulley 9a is designed to be connected by a belt or other means to a suitable source of power.

If the stiffening mixture or compound is one that requires heat, a coil of steam-pipe 98 may be provided, or instead, the tank itself may be steam-jacketed in the usual manner.

The operation of the machine is extremely simple. The blanks are arranged in a stack, as shown, and the tank is filled with a stillening solution. Starting the machine in operation reciprocates the feeding plate 35 to feed the blanks one at a time toward the rolls r! and 60 which feed the blanks into the guideway in the tank after which they are taken care of by the series of feed-rolls 9. The blanks then pass through the tank, being subjected to the action of the stiffening solution, and finally arrive at the pressure rolls where the surplus compound is removed and the blanks are delivered upon the table 93 in a soft, moist, pliable condition, ready for use. For further explanation of the construction, operation and use of the machine, reference may be made to my prior application hereinbefore re ferred to. 7

It is apparent that by regulating the time of the passage of the blanks through the tank, and the pressure exerted by the pres sure rolls, the amount of stiffening compound absorbed and retained by the blanks may be regulated. Furthermore, when the blanks emerge from the machine they will remain soft and pliable for several hours, giving ample opportunity for laying the blanks in shoes and then, when the shoes are put on the lasts, for, forming them around the lasts.

Preferably the blanks should be allowed to partially dry or set after the treating process until they reach a partially tempered condition; that is, a condition in which the blanks are nearly dry or set yet pliable or plastic enough to permit of bending and molding arounda last.

It is to be observed that by the use of my method box-toes for boots and shoes may be prepared ready for use in each shoe factory and at a point in each factory where they are to be incorporated in the shoes.

It will be noted that my process enables a shoe manufacturer to impregnate the boxtoe blanks as and when required for use, and that it obviates the necessity of having heating machines in order to render the ordinary form of box-toe blanks tacky and escapes the delay incidental to the heating step. Moreover, and this is one of the prinelpal advantages of my process, the box-toe blanks remain tacky and flexible for a period of time much longer than when they are reheated under the old method, and this extended period of time enables the box-toe blanks to be formed closely about the last and to secure a perfect fit. My method also saves the extra eifort required in forming blanks which are partially still? and cold and thereby enables the work to be put through much more rapidly, effecting a saving of time.

What I claim is;

1. The herein-described method of preparing and using box-toes in boots and shoes consisting in subjecting a blank of felt or other suitable material of a proper form and size to a bath of hot stiffening compound until said blank has become saturated, passing said blank between pressure rolls to press out the surplus compound, and to deliver the blank in a plastic condition, permitting the blank to set to a partially tempered condition, forming the blank while yet pliable about a shoe last, and securing it in position on the last and then permitting the blank to set and harden while on the last.

2. The herein-describ d method of premring and using box-toes in boots and shoes consisting in subjecting a blank of felt or other suitable material of a proper 5 form and size to a bath of stifienin compound until said blank has become saturated, passing said blank between pressure rolls to press out the surplus compound, and to deliver the blank in a plastic condi- 10 tion, permitting the blank to set to a partially tempered condition, forming the blank While yet pliable about :1 shoe lust, and then securing it in position on the last by stitching; or otherwise and permitting the blank to set and harden While on the 15 last.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this tenth clay of April, 1918.

lVILLIAM F. PACKARD. 

